Game and method having a multiple-progressive wheel component

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a game and associated method including a multiple-progressive wheel component. A player may win more than one wheel-based progressive award during play of a single game.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from provisional application 60/865,641filed on Nov. 13, 2006.

This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.______ entitled “GAMING MACHINE AND METHOD HAVING A MULTIPLE PROGRESSIVEWHEEL COMPONENT,” filed on Oct. 12, 2007 which claims priority fromprovisional application 60/865,641 filed on Nov. 13, 2006.

This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.______ entitled “NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A MULTIPLEPROGRESSIVE WHEEL GAME,” filed on Oct. 12, 2007 which claims priorityfrom provisional application 60/865,641 filed on Nov. 13, 2006.

All of the above referenced applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to gaming games and methods and, moreparticularly, to games and methods that have a multiple-progressivewheel component.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, various types of gaming machines have been developedwith different features to captivate and maintain player interest. Ingeneral, a gaming machine allows a player to play a game in exchange fora wager. Depending on the outcome of the game, the player may beentitled to an award which is paid to the player by the gaming machine,normally in the form of currency or game credits. Gaming machines mayinclude flashing displays, lighted displays, or sound effects to capturea player's interest in a gaming device.

Another important feature of maintaining player interest in a gamingmachine includes providing the player with many opportunities to winawards, such as cash or prizes. For example, in some slot machines, thedisplay windows show more than one adjacent symbol on each reel, therebyallowing for multiple-line betting. Some gaming machines offer a playerthe opportunity to win millions of dollars by providing progressivejackpots. Additionally, feature games of various types have beenemployed to reward players above the amounts normally awarded on astandard game pay schedule. Generally, such feature games are triggeredby predetermined events such as one or more appearances of certaincombinations of indicia in a primary game. In order to stimulateinterest, feature games are typically set to occur at a gaming machineon a statistical cycle based upon the number of primary game plays.

While gaming machines including feature games have been very successful,there remains a need for games that provide a player with enhancedexcitement and increased opportunity of winning

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a gameincludes an interface activatable by a player and a first gamecomprising a set of game plays, at least one of the game plays occurringafter activation of the interface by the player. The game furtherincludes a second game comprising a plurality of second game plays, thesecond game plays occurring after a triggering event, and at least onewheel capable of indicating awards which may be won as a result of thesecond game plays. At least one of the awards comprises one of a set ofprogressive awards and each second game play is associated with adifferent one of the set of progressive awards.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a gameincludes a set of game outcomes, a plurality of the outcomes determinedduring a play of the game. The game further includes at least one wheelfor displaying the determined outcomes and a plurality of progressiveawards, all of which may be won during the play of the game.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodof operating a game comprising a first game and a second game includesthe steps of accepting a wager from a player and initiating play of thefirst game according to the wager. The method further includes the stepsof, upon a triggering event associated with the game, initiating play ofthe second game and, for each of a plurality of progressive awards,determining a second game outcome and displaying the second game outcometo the player on a display comprising a wheel. In the event one or moreof the second game outcomes results in the winning of a progressiveaward, the method further comprises the steps of awarding each of thewon progressive awards to the player.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodof operating a game includes the steps of accepting a wager from aplayer and initiating play of the game according to the wager. Themethod further includes the steps of, for each of a plurality ofprogressive awards, determining a game outcome and displaying the gameoutcome to the player on a display comprising a wheel. In the event oneor more of the game outcomes results in the winning of a progressiveaward, the method also includes the steps of awarding each of the wonprogressive awards to the player.

Features and advantages will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate by way of example, the features of the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides an overview of a game of one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a display image associated with a help screen of oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a display image associated with a feature display of oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram depicting the steps associated withcarrying out a method in accordance of one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a gaming machine in accordance with oneaspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the physical and logical components of thegaming machine of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing the hardware elements of anetworked gaming system in accordance with one aspect of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments are directed to a game and method for playing agame, wherein the game includes a multiple-progressive wheel component.Embodiments of the game and method are illustrated and described herein,by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Referring now tothe drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-7, there are shownillustrative examples of a game and a method for playing a game inaccordance with various aspects of the invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, in accordance with one aspect of the invention,the Reel Millions primary game 100 is implemented using five spinningreels 101-105. Each of 20 pay line patterns (not shown) passes throughone indicium on each of the five reels. The number of pay lines andtheir patterns are by way of example only and may vary. The playerselects the number of played pay lines and the number of credits orcoins wagered on each line using touch screen controls or gaming devicecontrol buttons. The player's selections are displayed on PAY LINESmeter 110, LINE BET meter 120 and TOTAL BET meter 130 located adjacentto the reels. WIN PAID meter 140 and CREDIT meter 150 provide the playerwith information about the amount paid by the last game played and thetotal number of credits available for play. The player may collect thebalance of his credits by pressing a COLLECT button (not shown).

The player initiates game play by pressing a SPIN button (not shown). Insome embodiments, the player may simultaneously select all pay lines atthe maximum number of coins or credits allowed per line by pressing aMAX BET button. Buttons (see FIG. 4, 460) on gaming machine 400 (FIG. 4)or touch screen buttons (not shown) may be used to perform the actionsdescribed here without deviating from the scope of the invention. Reels101-105 are made to spin and stop in their predetermined stop positionsand then indicate whether the stop positions of the reels resulted in awinning game outcome.

Winning outcomes may be indicated on a pay table. In accordance with oneembodiment, part of a pay table 200 is shown in FIG. 2. The pay tablemay be accessible through a HELP/PAYS or similar button. In alternateembodiments, the pay table may be presented on a second video or printeddisplay attached to the gaming device (i.e. display 453 or “pay glass”452, FIG. 4). A winning combination, for example, could be three or moresymbols adjacent to one another on an active pay line. For each winningcombination, the game device awards the player the award in the paytable, adjusted as necessary based on the number of credits wagered onthe pay line on which the win occurred. For example, three DIAMONDsymbols 210 adjacent to one another from left-to-right on an active payline would pay 50 times the player's wager. In some embodiments, videorepresentations of pay tables may factor in the amount of the player'swager and no additional award adjustment is required.

In various embodiments, winning combinations may be evaluated acrossadjacent reels from left-to-right, from right-to-left or both.Additional winning combinations may be awarded when certain indicia donot necessarily accumulate adjacently on a pay line, but rather, appearanywhere on the reels (i.e., “scatter pays”). In addition, “wild”indicia may be used to complete winning combinations. Some “wild”indicia may also cause completed winning combinations to be result inpay amounts in excess of the normal winning combination by way ofmultiplication or addition, for example, a wild doubler symbol may beused.

Various primary game outcomes may be utilized to trigger the play of thefeature game, including, but not limited to, awarding bonus play whencertain symbols appear on a pay line, when certain symbols arescattered, when no symbols of a certain type appear, when a certainwinning combination occurs or, regardless of the visible symbols, atrandom or fixed intervals. In the Reel Millions embodiment, theappearance of three or more REEL MILLION$ trigger symbols scattered onthe reels trigger the feature game. In one embodiment, a wager of acertain amount may also be required in order to trigger the featuregame. For example, the player may be required to play the maximum wagerin order to be eligible. The feature game provides the player with fromthree to five random spins of a feature wheel pointer based on thenumber of REEL MILLION$ symbols triggering the feature. In the exampleof FIG. 1, a REEL MILLION$ symbol 111-115 appears on each of the reels101-105, signifying that five spins of the pointer will occur duringplay of the feature game with each spin and its potential awardassociated with a different one of the triggering symbols. Thus, eachspin of the wheel provides the opportunity for the player to win adifferent progressive prize. Up to five progressives may be won duringplay of a single feature game.

As shown in FIG. 3, game display 300 presents a wheel game comprising avideo representation of a wheel 310 and a pointer 320. Wheel 310 is afixed illustration of a wheel that includes payout indicators 330 on theface thereof. Pointer 320 is located in proximity to wheel 310 so as torotate about the illustration of wheel 310. During play of the secondarygame, pointer 320 moves in a circular motion around the central axis ofstationary wheel 310 and eventually comes to a stop in front of a payoutindicator 330, thereby indicating a payout on wheel 310 which the playerhas won. Alternatively, pointer 320 is fixed and the wheel 310 spins.Various award values are identified on the payout indictors, e.g.,“1000”, “150”, “250”, “100”, “5000”, “PROGRESSIVE,” etc. In oneembodiment, the award values are changed depending on the particularspin of the wheel and one of the progressive values 341-345 isassociated with “PROGRESSIVE” payout indicator 350. In some embodiments,a separate wheel is provided for each wheel spin. For example, fivewheels may be dedicated to the presentation of the secondary game, eachof the five wheels associated with one of the progressive values341-345.

Conventionally, payout indicator 330 is identified by gaming softwareoperating on or in conjunction with the gaming machine through a randomgenerator, such as a random number generator. The random generatorassists in avoiding potential defective mechanical components that maydrive an unlikely number of wins or losses. In one embodiment, prior toidentifying payout indicator 330, the rate of speed of the spinningportion of the wheel is adjusted to slow down to give an illusion of afree spinning device in order to build excitement and enjoyment of theplayer as the moment of selection builds.

In one embodiment, game display 300 includes a stationary wheel 310having a physical pointer 320. The pointer may or may not beilluminated. Additionally, lights (not shown) are placed about the axisof wheel 310. In this and other similar embodiments, the lights may beselectively turned on and off to simulate a pointer until a selectedpayout indicator 320 is illuminated to identify the winning selection.The lights may be conventionally controlled by circuitry tied to thegaming machine processor and software. The lights may sequentially turnon and off to give the illusion of spinning or may randomly turn on andoff until the selection is made in accordance with a conventional randomnumber generator (not shown). Additionally, the lights may include apointer light that is a different color from the other lights. Forexample, the lights may be blue and the pointer light may be red. Theblue lights may remain on while the red light (which may be comprised ofseveral consecutive lights) may be sequentially turned on and off togive the illusion of a spinning red light which ultimately will stopadjacent to the selected payout indicator 320. It may further beappreciated that the lights may comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs)with red-green-blue or similar coloring which can be activated accordingto an algorithm or pattern to cause particular visual affects thatgenerate excitement or entertainment to a player.

Optionally, in an alternate embodiment, wheel 310 in game display 300includes a moving wheel face 360 having multiple wheel segments 370wherein separate prize amounts are indicated on each wheel segment 370.One or more fixed pointers (not shown) are located in proximity to wheel310 so as to be adjacent to a unique wheel segment 370 when the wheelface is in a stationary mode, for example, at the conclusion of a wheelspin, in order to indicate a winning outcome.

A logical flow diagram generally depicting the steps associated with amethod 400 for carrying out a game having a multiple-progressive wheelcomponent, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, is presentedin FIG. 4. In one example implementation, a gaming program executable ona gaming processor may be prepared in accordance with conventionalprogramming techniques and software to produced the desired affect asdescribed by the blocks and flow paths in the flow diagram and tablesbelow. In another example implementation, the desired effect asdescribed by the flow diagram and tables below may be produced byutilizing an electro-mechanical apparatus, such as one using spinningreels together with a spinning wheel which may be implemented togetherwith a random number generator configured in accordance withconventional mathematical modelling methods. The order of actions asshown in FIG. 4 is only illustrative, and should not be consideredlimiting. For example, the order of the actions may be changed,additional steps may be added or some steps may be removed withoutdeviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.

First at block 410, primary game play is initiated. The player places awager and starts the game, whereby each reel then spins or displays arepresentation of a slot machine reel spin before stopping withparticular indicia displayed to the player. A win occurs if a series ofindicia (BAR, BAR, BAR, for example) appears on one or more pay lines orscattered, as described above. The player is paid for any winning symbolcombinations at block 420. At block 430, the indicia on the reels areexamined to determine the existence of a combination predetermined to bea feature game trigger. For example, three or more REEL MILLION$ symbolsappearing simultaneously on the reels may be considered a feature gametrigger. Each of the trigger symbols may be associated with acorresponding progressive award, which may be named, as shown in TABLE1.

TABLE 1 Reel Symbol Progressive Values Jackpot Name REEL MILLION$ onReel #5 $1 Million Pearl Jackpot REEL MILLION$ on Reel #4 $1,000 TopazJackpot REEL MILLION$ on Reel #3 $100 Ruby Jackpot REEL MILLION$ on Reel#2 $50 Sapphire Jackpot REEL MILLION$ on Reel #1 $10 Emerald Jackpot

If the displayed indicia do not correspond to a feature game trigger,for example, three or more REEL MILLION$ symbols, processing resumes atblock 410 with play of another iteration of the primary game. Otherwise,the feature game is played at blocks 440-490.

At block 440, the wheel is setup with prizes associated with the firsttrigger symbol. At block 450, a random location is selected and thepointer of the wheel is then spun (or a simulated video spin occurs) andstopped at the preselected location with one of the prizes indicated bythe pointer.

At block 460, a determination is made whether the prize adjacent to thefixed pointer corresponds to a progressive award. If so, the player isawarded the progressive prize associated with the trigger symbol forthis spin of the wheel at block 470.

At block 470, it is determined whether any wheel pointer spins remain tobe performed. For example, at the start of the feature game, it may havebeen determined that three wheel spins would be performed because threetriggering symbols were displayed. It will be appreciated that thenumber of wheel spins may vary based on the number of displayedtriggering symbol or according to any other criteria. If thepredetermined number of wheel spins has not been completed, flowproceeds to block 480, where the wheel is setup with prizes associatedwith the next trigger symbol. For example, the amount of the progressiveprize available on this spin of the wheel may be highlighted and otherprize values associated with the various segments on the wheel maychange. In some embodiments, the values on the wheel remain fixed fromspin to spin.

If all wheel spins have been performed, the feature game is complete andthe next primary game play is initiated at block 410. If all wheel spinshave not yet been performed, processing returns to block 450 for anothercycle of wheel spin and potential progressive award payment.

In accordance with one embodiment, FIG. 5 illustrates a gaming machine500 including cabinet housing 520, primary game display 540,player-activated buttons 560, player tracking panel 536, bill/voucheracceptor 580 and one or more speakers 590. Cabinet housing 520 is aself-standing unit that is generally rectangular in shape and may bemanufactured with reinforced steel or other rigid materials which areresistant to tampering and vandalism. Cabinet housing 520 houses aprocessor, circuitry, and software (not shown) for receiving signalsfrom player-activated buttons 560, operating the games, and transmittingsignals to the respective displays and speakers. Any shaped cabinet maybe implemented with any embodiment of gaming machine 500 so long as itprovides access to a player for playing a game. For example, cabinet 520may comprise a slant-top, bar-top, or table-top style cabinet. Theoperation of gaming machine 500 is described more fully below.

The plurality of player-activated buttons 560 may be used for variousfunctions such as, but not limited to, selecting a wager denomination,selecting a game to be played, selecting a wager amount per game,initiating a game, or cashing out money from gaming machine 500. Buttons560 function as input mechanisms and may include mechanical buttons,electromechanical buttons or touch screen buttons. Optionally, a handle585 may be rotated by a player to initiate a game.

In other embodiments, buttons 560 may be replaced with various otherinput mechanisms known in the art such as, but not limited to, a touchscreen system, touch pad, track ball, mouse, switches, toggle switches,or other input means used to accept player input. For example, one inputmeans is a universal button module as disclosed in U.S. application Ser.No. 11/106,212, entitled “Universal Button Module,” filed on Apr. 14,2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Generally, theuniversal button module provides a dynamic button system adaptable foruse with various games and capable of adjusting to gaming systems havingfrequent game changes. More particularly, the universal button modulemay be used in connection with playing a game on a gaming machine andmay be used for such functions as selecting the number of credits to betper hand.

Cabinet housing 520 may optionally include top box 550 which contains“top glass” 552 comprising advertising or payout information related tothe game or games available on gaming machine 500. Player tracking panel536 includes player tracking card reader 534 and player tracking display532. Voucher printer 530 may be integrated into player tracking panel536 or installed elsewhere in cabinet housing 520 or top box 550.

Game display 540 presents a game of chance wherein a player receives oneor more outcomes from a set of potential outcomes. For example, one suchgame of chance is a video slot machine game, an example of which isentitled Reel Millions, described above. In other aspects of theinvention, gaming machine 500 may present a video or mechanical reelslot machine, a video keno game, a lottery game, a bingo game, a ClassII bingo game, a roulette game, a craps game, a blackjack game, amechanical or video representation of a wheel game or the like.

Mechanical or video/mechanical embodiments may include game displayssuch as mechanical reels, one or more wheels, or dice as required topresent the game to the player. In video/mechanical or pure videoembodiments, game display 540 is, typically, a CRT or a flat-paneldisplay in the form of, but not limited to, liquid crystal, plasma,electroluminescent, vacuum fluorescent, field emission, or any othertype of panel display known or developed in the art. Game display 540may be mounted in either a “portrait” or “landscape” orientation and beof standard or “widescreen” dimensions (i.e., a ratio of one dimensionto another of at least 16×9). For example, a widescreen display may be32 inches wide by 18 inches tall. A widescreen display in a “portrait”orientation may be 32 inches tall by 18 inches wide. Additionally, gamedisplay 540 preferably includes a touch screen or touch glass system(not shown) and presents player interfaces such as, but not limited to,credit meter (not shown), win meter (not shown) and touch screen buttons(not shown).

Game display 540 may also present information such as, but not limitedto, player information, advertisements and casino promotions, graphicdisplays, news and sports updates, or even offer an alternate game. Thisinformation may be generated through a host computer networked withgaming machine 500 on its own initiative or it may be obtained byrequest of the player using either one or more of the plurality ofplayer-activated buttons 560; the game display itself, if game display540 comprises a touch screen or similar technology; buttons (not shown)mounted about game display 540 which may permit selections such as thosefound on an ATM machine, where legends on the screen are associated withrespective selecting buttons; or any player input device that offers therequired functionality.

Cabinet housing 520 incorporates an electromechanical game display 540comprising stepper motor-driven reels. However, in various embodiments,cabinet housing 520 or top box 550 may house one or more additionaldisplays 553 or components used for various purposes includingadditional game play screens, animated “top glass,” progressive metersor mechanical or electromechanical devices (not shown) such as, but notlimited to, wheels, pointers or reels. The additional displays may ormay not include a touch screen or touch glass system. An example of atouch glass system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,571, entitled“Gaming Device with Direction and Speed Control of Mechanical ReelsUsing Touch Screen,” which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Depending upon the occurrence of a winning outcome, a celebrationsequence may be displayed on display 553 or a horn or other sounds maybe emitted through speakers 590. A light 595 may be flashed in order todevelop a sense of fanfare around a winning player and to alert casinofloor personnel that a large win has occurred so that they maycongratulate the winner, notify the winner of the payout, pay thewinner, and/or reset gaming machine 500.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is ablock diagram showing the interconnection 600 of physical and logicalcomponents of gaming machine 500. Currency acceptor 610 is typicallyconnected to a conventional central processing unit (“CPU”) 505, such asan Intel Pentium microprocessor mounted on a gaming motherboard, by aserial connection such as RS-232 or USB. The gaming motherboard may bemounted with other conventional components, such as are found onconventional personal computer motherboards, and loaded with a gamingmachine operating system (OS), such as an Alpha OS installed within aBally S9000, M9000 or CineVision™ slot machine. CPU 605 executes gameprogram 620 that causes reels 630 to display a game. In one embodiment,game program 620 is a game entitled Reel Millions.

When a player has inserted a form of currency such as, for example andwithout limitation, paper currency, coins or tokens, cashless tickets orvouchers, electronic funds transfers or the like into currency acceptor610, a signal is sent to CPU 605 which, in turn, assigns an appropriatenumber of credits for play. The player may further control the operationof the gaming machine, for example, to select the amount to wager viaelectromechanical or touchscreen buttons 650. The game starts inresponse to the player pushing one of buttons 650 or an alternate startmechanism such as a handle or touchscreen icon (not shown). Randomnumber generator 640 responds to instructions from CPU 605 to provide adisplay of randomly selected indicia on reels 630. In some embodiments,random generator 640 may be physically separate from gaming machine 500;for example, it may be part of a central determination host system (notshown) which provides random game outcomes to CPU 605. Thereafter, theplayer may or may not interact with the game through electromechanicalor touchscreen buttons 650 to change the displayed indicia. Finally, CPU605 under control of game program 620 compares the final display ofindicia to a pay table. The set of possible game outcomes may include asubset of outcomes related to the triggering of a feature game. In theevent the displayed outcome is a member of this subset, CPU 605, undercontrol of game program 620, may cause feature game play to be presentedon feature display 670.

In one embodiment, reels 630 are electromechanical reels. Game program600 includes reel spinning firmware to provide proper signals fordriving multiple stepper motors (not shown), which, in turn, spin thereels 630. Preferably, the motors are driven using a “full step”excitation sequence in which a single motor step is preformed bychanging the excitation on one of the two-phase inputs in a specifiedsequence. The sequence determines whether the direction implemented isforward or reverse. The reel drive pulse trains go through threedistinct stages: acceleration, steady state, and deceleration. Duringacceleration, reels 630 are driven with a pulse frequency that is lessthan the maximum “start/stop” frequency. Typically, if a motor isattempted to be started with a high frequency pulse, the motor losessynchronization and slips. Therefore, preferably the drive frequency isincrementally increased until the steady state drive frequency isreached. At steady state, reels 630 are driven for a specified number ofsteps at the maximum drive frequency before going to the decelerationphase. During deceleration, the process is reversed and the drivefrequency decreased until the stopping frequency is reached. Preferably,this procedure helps to prevent reels 630 from slipping past the properstop position on deceleration. Finally, at the stopping point, the motorexcitation signals are held constant.

In one embodiment, the primary game reels are not used for the featureplay; instead, a wheel or other feature display 670 is used to presentthe feature game outcomes. The feature display may be anelectromechanical device, may present the feature on a video display orboth.

Predetermined payout amounts for certain outcomes, including featuregame outcomes, are stored as part of game program 620. Such payoutamounts are, in response to instructions from CPU 605, provided to theplayer in the form of coins, credits or currency via payout mechanism660, which may be one or more of a credit meter, a coin hopper, avoucher printer, an electronic funds transfer protocol or any otherpayout means known or developed in the art.

In various embodiments of gaming machine 500, game program 620 is storedin a memory device (not shown) connected to or mounted on the gamingmotherboard. By way of example, but not by limitation, such memorydevices include external memory devices, hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVDs, andflash memory cards. In an alternative embodiment, the game programs arestored in a remote storage device. In one embodiment, the remote storagedevice is housed in a remote server. The gaming machine may access theremote storage device via a network connection, including but notlimited to, a local area network connection, a TCP/IP connection, awireless connection, or any other means for operatively networkingcomponents together. Optionally, other data including graphics, soundfiles and other media data for use with gaming machine 500 are stored inthe same or a separate memory device (not shown). Some or all of gameprogram 620 and its associated data may be loaded from one memory deviceinto another, for example, from flash memory to random access memory(RAM).

Referring to FIG. 7, in accordance with one aspect of the invention,gaming system 700 includes host computer or server 710, gaming machines750, and network 740 connecting gaming machines 750 to server 710.Additionally, gaming display computer 730 is shown connected to network740. Server 710 may be selected from a variety of conventionallyavailable servers. The type of server used is generally determined bythe platform and software requirements of the gaming system. Examples ofsuitable servers are an IBM RS6000-based server, an IBM AS/400-basedserver or a Microsoft Windows-based server, but it should be appreciatedthat any suitable server may be used. It may also be appreciated thatserver 710 may be configured as a single “logical” server that comprisesmultiple physical servers. Gaming machines 750 operate similar toconventional peripheral networked terminals. Gaming machines 750 have aplayer interface such as a display, a card reader, and selection buttonsthrough which gaming machines 750 interact with a player playing awagering game having a multiple-progressive wheel game in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention. The player interface is usedfor making choices such as the amount of a bet or the number of lines tobet. Gaming machines 750 also provide information to server 710concerning activity on gaming machines 750 and provide a communicationportal for players with server 710. For example, the player interfacemay be used for selecting different server-related menu options such as,but not limited to, transferring a specified number of credits from aplayer account onto the credit meter of the gaming machine, or fortransferring credits from the gaming machine to a central playeraccount.

In various embodiments, any of the gaming machines 750 may be amechanical reel spinning slot machine, video slot machine, video pokermachine, keno machine, video blackjack machine, or a gaming machineoffering one or more of the above described primary games including amultiple-progressive wheel game. Networking components (not shown)facilitate communications across network 740 between the system server710 and game management units 720 and/or gaming display controlcomputers 730 that control displays for carousels of gaming machines.Game management units (GMU's) 720 connect gaming machines to networkingcomponents and may be installed in the gaming machine cabinet orexternal to the gaming machine. The function of the GMU is similar tothe function of a network interface card connected to a desktop personalcomputer (PC) and it may contain tracking software which providesnotification to the casino of certain events on a gaming machine 750,including wins. Depending upon the casino management system, payouts onlarge wins at gaming machines 750 may be made directly to a playeraccount managed by the host computer; in which case, the player isnotified by way of the GMU at gaming machine 750 that the player'saccount has been credited.

Some GMU's have much greater capability and can perform such tasks aspresenting and playing a game having a multiple-progressive wheel gameusing a display 725 operatively connected to GMU 720. In one embodiment,GMU 720 is a separate component located outside the gaming machine.Alternatively, in another embodiment, the GMU 720 is located within thegaming machine. Optionally, in an alternative embodiment, one or moregaming machines 750 connect directly to the network and are notconnected to a GMU 720. Displays related to games offering amultiple-progressive wheel game on gaming machines 750 or GMU displays725 may also be presented on gaming display 735 by gaming displaycontrol computer 730. An example of a display control computer isdisclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/463,793, entitled“Reconfigurable Gaming Display and System,” filed on Aug. 10, 2006,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A gaming system of the type described above also allows a plurality ofgames in accordance with the various embodiments of the invention to belinked under the control of server 710 for cooperative or competitiveplay in a particular area, carousel, casino or between casinos locatedin geographically separate areas.

One will appreciate that a gaming system may also comprise other typesof components, and the above illustrations are meant only as examplesand not as limitations to the types of components or games having amultiple-progressive wheel game. Additionally, it may further beappreciated that each of the games could be operated on a remote hostcomputer such that a player initiates play with the host computer over anetwork via the player interface and gaming machine 750 operates therespective gaming and video displays in conjunction with the game whoseplay is controlled by the remote computer. In another example, the hostcomputer provides a progressive controller which controls one or moreprogressive pools associated with networked games havingmultiple-progressive wheel games.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the claimedinvention. For example, a game in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe invention may be one of a set of primary games randomly selected forplay following initiation of play by the player. For example, U.S.application Ser. No. 11/428,220, entitled “Multiple Primary GamesTriggered by Random Number Generator,” filed on Jun. 30, 2006, herebyincorporated in by reference its entirety, discloses a gaming machineincluding at least two distinct primary games. After receiving a wager,the gaming machine determines which primary game to activate. Theselected primary game is activated and a game outcome is presented tothe player on a game display. A payout may be awarded according to thegame outcome. The availability of one or more of the games may berestricted based on the size of the wager. In another embodiment, a gamein accordance with one or more aspects of the invention may beassociated with a table game such a poker or blackjack. For example, aplayer may receive a chance to win a plurality of wheel-basedprogressives based on cards received during play of the table game, eachspin of the wheel associated with one of the received cards andproviding an opportunity to win a different progressive with each spin.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modificationsand changes that may be made to the claimed invention without followingthe example embodiments and applications illustrated and describedherein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of theclaimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. A game comprising: an interface activatable by a player; a first gamecomprising a set of game plays, at least one of the game plays occurringafter activation of the interface by the player, a second gamecomprising a plurality of second game plays, the second game playsoccurring after a triggering event; and at least one wheel capable ofindicating awards which may be won as a result of the second game plays,at least one of the awards comprising one of a set of progressiveawards; wherein each second game play is associated with a different oneof the set of progressive awards.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein eachsecond game outcome is randomly determined.
 3. The game of claim 1wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined first gameoutcome.
 4. The game of claim 1 wherein the separate aspects of thetriggering event comprise one or more trigger symbols.
 5. The game ofclaim 4 further comprising a separate second game outcome associatedwith each of the one or more trigger symbols.
 6. The game of claim 5wherein a separate progressive award may be won as a result of each ofthe separate second game outcomes.
 7. The game of claim 1 furthercomprising a wager, wherein play of the second game is restricted by anamount of the wager.
 8. The game of claim 1 wherein the first gamecomprises at least one of a slot machine game, a poker game, a kenogame, a blackjack game, a bingo game, and a roulette game and a wheelgame.
 9. The game of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of progressiveawards may be won during a single play of the second game.
 10. The gameof claim 1 wherein a separate wheel is associated with each of thesecond game plays.
 11. A game comprising: a set of game outcomes, aplurality of the outcomes determined during a play of the game; at leastone wheel for displaying the determined outcomes; and a plurality ofprogressive awards, all of which may be won during the play of the game.12. The game of claim 10 wherein the game is one of a plurality of gamesrandomly selected for play.
 13. The game of claim 10 wherein each of thegame outcomes is randomly determined.
 14. The game of claim 10 whereineach of the plurality of outcomes is associated with a different one ofthe plurality of progressive awards.
 15. The game of claim 10 furthercomprising a wager, wherein play of the game is restricted by the amountof the wager.
 16. The game of claim 10 wherein the game is associatedwith a table game.
 17. The game of claim 10 wherein each of theplurality of determined outcomes is displayed by a different wheel. 18.A method of operating a game comprising a first game and a second gamecomprising: accepting a wager from a player; initiating play of thefirst game according to the wager; upon a triggering event associatedwith the game, initiating play of the second game; for each of aplurality of progressive awards, determining a second game outcome anddisplaying the second game outcome to the player on a display, thedisplay comprising a wheel; and in the event one or more of the secondgame outcomes results in the winning of a progressive award, awardingeach of the won progressive awards to the player.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 further comprising the step of restricting play of the secondgame based on the amount of the wager.
 20. The method of claim 18wherein the first game comprises at least one of a slot machine game, apoker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette gameand a wheel game.
 21. A method of operating a game, the methodcomprising the steps of: accepting a wager from a player; initiatingplay of the game according to the wager; for each of a plurality ofprogressive awards, determining a game outcome and displaying the gameoutcome to the player on a display, the display comprising a wheel; andin the event one or more of the game outcomes results in the winning ofa progressive award, awarding each of the won progressive awards to theplayer.
 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step ofrestricting play of the game based on the amount of the wager.
 23. Themethod of claim 21 wherein each game outcome is a random outcome. 24.The method of claim 21 wherein all of the progressive awards are wonduring a single play of the game.